Word: ritzes
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Pennypacker's abrupt rise in esteem--"from the pits to the Ritz," as one former resident characterized it--provides plenty of fodder for characterized it--provides plenty of fodder for armchair sociologists quick to find an incisive explanation for any new trend. While finding any people who say they are unhappy with life in Pennypacker may be surprisingly difficult, it's a cinch to find 20 people with 20 different theories about why the dorm has suddenly become such a "bed of roses." But the various theories explaining the dorm's new-found popularity all return to a single fact...
Antic, frantic, mechanical but amusing anyhow, The Ritz is of particular interest because it is the first major movie about homosexuality that does not give a thought to redeeming social value. There is not a trace of seriousness in The Ritz. In both the traditional and contemporary meanings of the word, it is a gay movie...
...carefully programmed knockabout farce, The Ritz has been adapted with only slight modification from Terrence McNally's Broadway hit. The insanity centers around a small-time Italian businessman named Gaetano Proclo (Jack Weston). On the run from a mobster brother-in-law, Gaetano lies low in what he considers a suitably obscure hideout. The place even has a reassuringly classy name-the Ritz. Gaetano is from Cleveland, so he can be forgiven his naiveté about the Manhattan demimonde. He suspects all is not well, however, when the Ritz turns out to be an elaborate bathhouse patronized exclusively...
Visions of Glory. Like any formal bedroom comedy, The Ritz skims along on a plot that defies both good sense and synopsis. At no point is Gaetano's life or manhood entirely safe, and in battling to preserve both, he stumbles across deranged characters like Googie Gomez (Rita Moreno), a busted-down Puerto Rican entertainer with visions of Broadway glory. So far, success has kept well ahead of her. Googie's problem, mainly, is her accent, which is thick enough to weigh on a scale. In her lust for fame and fortune, Googie mistakes Gaetano...
...never be sure of anyone at the Ritz-not Carmine Vespucci (Jerry Stiller), the homicidal brother-in-law, not even Vivian Proclo (Kaye Ballard), Gaetano's hysterical wife-but there is one thing certain: despite stiff competition from a very funny Jack Weston, Rita Moreno runs off with the movie, stashed under Googie's unconvincing wig. It is a combustible comic performance...